No Fidel, Parade Goes On

Cubans have given up hope of seeing Fidel Castro in public after he failed to show up at a military parade held in honor of his 80th birthday.

Many Cubans still hoped that Castro would make at least a brief appearance during a huge military parade in Havana on Saturday morning to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Revolutionary Armed Forces. The commemoration culminates five days of celebrations for Castro's 80th birthday, but he has yet to make an appearance.

The Cuban leader turned 80 on Aug. 13 but delayed the celebrations to give him time to recover from surgery two weeks earlier for intestinal bleedings. He has not been seen in public since July 26, and few details about his condition have been released by Cuba's communist government.

Maybe the world will get a Christmas present.